Fire extinguisher multiple horn assembly



F. B. ALLEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER MULTIPLE HORN ASSEMBLY June 10, 1952 2 SHEETS--S!-IEET1 Filed June 9, 1950 INVENTOR KFPAWK 5 A 44! BYQ ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 ALLEN 2,599,533

FIRE EXTINGUISHER MULTIPLE HORN ASSEMBLY Filed June 9, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Q N w a Q N v E [H INVENTOR. g: FRANKB. ALLEN iatented June 10, 1952 FIRE EXTINGUISHER MULTIPLE HORN ASSEMBLY Frank B. Allen, Towaco, N. J., assignor to 6-0- Two Fire Equipment Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application June 9, 1950, Serial No. 167,219

9 Claims. (01. 169-11) This invention relates to fire extinguishers utilizing carbon dioxide as an extinguishing agent, and particularly to a large capacity discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide snow for the purpose of extingu'shing fires.

In producing snow from liquid carbon dioxide, it is known that the presence of entrained air in the emerging stream of carbon dioxide tends to decrease the amount of snow formed and thus decreases the effective concentration of the carbon dioxide delivered to the fire.

So-called horns have been developed which have certain well-defined shapes for the purpose of reducing the amount of entrained air and increasing the amount of carbon dioxide which is transformed into snow.

In order to have the best efficiency, such horns should have a definite length with respect to their diameters and also with respect to the rate of discharge of carbon dioxide through the discharge nozzle. It can be seen, therefore, that an increase in the discharge from one of such horns can be attained only by increasing its nozzle opening, its diameter, and its length. For this reason, it is difficult to obtain a large concentrated discharge of carbon dioxide snow without increasing the length of the horn to an extent resulting in an unwieldy device, especially if it is intended to be portable and held in the hand of the operator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a discharge horn having an increaseddischarge without a corresponding increase in the length thereof.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a discharge horn of increased efliciency, that is, to increase the percentage of the discharge of carbon dioxide which is delivered as snow.

In accordance with the invention, this is accomplished by providing a plurality of properly proportioned discharge horns each of which has a nozzle to deliver carbon dioxide to its horn at a rate to assure that the maximum amount of carbondioxide is transformed into snow. Means are provided to prevent the entrainment of air between the various horns. In one form of the invention, the entrainment is prevented by providing an outer shield or horn which is shaped generally to receive the cluster of smaller horns, and if desired, the outer shield may be extended somewhat beyond the ends of the smaller horns to still further prevent the entrainment of air. In accordance with another form of the invention, an apertured front plate is provided to block.

off the interstices between the cluster of small horns and to act as a supporting structure to give rigidity to the assembly. In accordance with still another form of the invention, the various individual small horns making up the assembly are formed with a cross sectional shape so as to fit together to prevent interstices therebetween and thus prevent the entrainment of air.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example, embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of one form of horn in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an end View of the horn shown in Figure 1 looking at the discharge end.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of a modified form of horn.

Figure 4 is an end view similar to Figure 2 of the horn partly shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to Figure 1 of a modified horn in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 is an end view of the horn shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an end view of another modified horn in accordance with the invention.

Figure 8 is an end view of still another modified horn in accordance with the invention.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2, one form is shown. Seven individual horns III are arranged in a group having a center horn with six other horns arranged around the periphery thereof. All of the horns ID are individually fitted with nozzles I l for the discharge of carbon dioxide into their interiors. A supply pipe I2 delivers liquid carbon dioxide to the individual nozzles I I through a fitting 13 which has an axial bore for receiving a pipe l5 leading to the nozzle of the center horn. The fitting also has openings l6 extending laterally thereof to receive elbow pipes H leading to the nozzles I l, of the peripheral horns Ill. The pipes I! may be threaded or secured in any other suitable manner to the fitting I3. In order to assure the maximum efliciency, it is desirable to prevent circulation of air past the exterior of the individual horns. This has been accomplished in this embodiment by the provision of an outer shield l8 which is shaped to more or less conform to a circumscribed cone around the peripheral individual horns. An apertured front plate [9 closes the space betweenthe individual horns I0 at this it is evident that the center horn discharges in 7 an atmosphere which tends to protect it from entrained air. However, it is to be believed that this is not the only shielding action possible. If the center horn were to be omitted the six re' maining horns would still be more eificient than six individual horns from the point of view of minimization of entrainment of air during discharge. This is because any adjacent portions of the periphery of the discharge horns tend to mutually shield each other from the entrainment of air. Thus, it is possible to obtain the advantages of the present device with a smaller number of horns than is shown, and it is, of course, preferable that whatever number is chosen the horns should be arranged to give the smallest outside periphery possible. The shielding effect has a further result which has been found advantageous in that the range, or distance, over which the horns can project carbon dioxide snow in useful quantities and concentrations, is greatly increased when the horns are clustered as shown. This is apparently due to the fact that the projected matter is largely carbon dioxide gas and carbon dioxide snow, both of which are denser than the circumambient atmosphere, and consequently, the projected matter is hindered less by the atmosphere than it would be with entrained air.

Referring now to Figures .3 and l, a modified rorm of'discharge device is shown in which a greater number of horns is provided. In this form nineteen individual discharge horns are shown and the construction i generally similar to the form shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, in order to provide sufficient room for the branch pipes, a fitting is provided with a number of rows of openings for receiving various conduits Zl leading to individual horn nozzles 22. This structure is also provided with a peripheral shield 23 and a front shield 24 which serves the purpose of protecting the discharge from entrainment of air as much as possible.

V In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5, outer shield 24 is extended as indicated at 25 to separate the issuing carbon dioxide vapor and snow from the surrounding atmosphere until its velocity has dropped somewhat so as to lessen the entrainment of air. The cluster of smaller horns positioned therein is constructed in the same manner as shown in Figure 1 and the parts have been identified with the same numerals. 7 By this construction, the flow from the various horns is "shielded until the various streams have interimingled and lost some of their turbulence so that a stream of better carrying quality is provided as well as one in which the entrainment of air is minimized. The outer end of this form of the horn is shown in Figure 6.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figure 7 in which a plurality of small horns 33 are made with a triangular cross sectional shape so that the various horns fit together to close the interstices 'therebetween and thus prevent the entrainment of air.

The horns may be secured together along their length in any suitable manner such as by the use of rivets, screws, or the like. or they may be cemented together to provide a rigid structure. Likewise, as in the case of the previous embodiment, if desired, an enveloping shield may be placed over the cluster of horns and extended slightly beyond the outer edge thereof to improve the flow.

In Figure 8 still another embodiment of the invention is disclosed in which a plurality of small horns 32 of generally frusto-conical cross sectional shape are arranged in a ring surrounding a center horn 34 of hexagonal cross sectional shape. This construction is also advantageous in preventing interstices between the horns and thus prevents the entrainment of air from this source. 7

As described in connection with Figure '7, the the horns may be attached together along their length in any suitable manner such as by the use of rivets, screws, or the like, or they may be cemented together to provide a rigid structure.

It is thus apparent that an improved large capacity discharge horn has been provided of best efficiency without the necessity of extending its diameter and length which might roduce an unwieldy and cumbersome device. i

While the invention has been described and lustrated with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that other embodiments may be resorted to without departing from the invention. Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide for fire extinguishin purposes comprising a plurality of nozzles, supply conduit means to deliver carbon dioxide to the nozzles, a plurality of shields each positioned about a nozzle, the shields arranged with their outlet ends contiguous so that the discharges therefrom have a mutually shieldingefiect, and space closing means positioned between the supply conduit and the outlet ends of the shields to prevent the entrainment of air from between the shields.

2. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide snovv comprising a plurality of nozzles, a supply conduit adapted to deliver liquid carbon dioxide, a hollow member connected to said conduit, conduits forming a communication between said member and each of said nozzles, a plurality of gradually tapering shields each surrounding one of said nozzles, said shields being arranged with their mouths contiguous, and space closing means positioned between the supply conduit and the outlet ends of the shields to prevent the entrainment of air from between the ends of the shields.

3. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide snow comprising a plurality of nozzles, a conduit adapted to deliver liquid carbon dioxide, "a hollow member connected to said conduit, conduits forming a communication between said member and each of said nozzles, a plurality of gradually tapering shields surrounding each of said nozzles, said shields being arranged with their mouths 'continguous, and a front plate closing the spaces between the outer ends of the shields to prevent the entrainment of air from between the shields.

4. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide for fire extinguishing purposes comprising a plurality of nozzles, conduit means to deliver carbon dioxide to the nozzles, a plurality of shields each positioned about a nozzle and forming interstices between their outlet ends, the shields arranged with their outlet ends contiguous so that the discharges therefrom have a mutually shielding effect, and space closing means for the interstices between the shields to prevent entrainment of air from such interstices.

5. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide for fire extinguishing purposes comprising a plurality of nozzles, conduit means to deliver carbon dioxide to the nozzles, a plurality of small shields each positioned about a nozzle, the shields arranged with their outlet ends contiguous so that the discharges therefrom have a mutually shielding effect, and an outer shield enclosing the smaller shields to prevent the entrainment of air from between the shields.

6. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide for fire extinguishing purposes comprising a plurality of nozzles, conduit means to deliver carbon dioggide to the nozzles, a plurality of small -shieldsach positioned about a nozzle and form ing interstices between their outlet ends, the shields arranged with their outlet ends contiguous so that the discharges therefrom have a mutually shielding effect, an outer longer shield enclosing the smaller shields, and a front plate, the longer shield and the front plate closing the spaces between the shields to prevent the entrainment of air from the interstices between the shields.

'7. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide for fire extinguishing purposes comprising a plurality of nozzles, conduit means to deliver carbon dioxide to the nozzles, and a plurality of shields each positioned about a nozzle, the shields arranged with their outlet ends contiguous and pointed in generally the same direction so that the discharges therefrom have a mutually shielding effect, the shields constructed and arranged with their outer ends shaped to adjoin each other to prevent entrainment of air from between the ends of the shields,

8. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide for fire extinguishing purposes comprising a plurality of nozzles, conduit means to deliver carbon dioxide to the nozzles, and a plurality of shields each positioned about a nozzle, the shields arranged with their outlet ends contiguous so that the discharges therefrom have a mutually shielding effect, the shields having a cross sectional shape at their outer ends of triangular shape so as to fit together to prevent entrainment of air from between the ends of the shields.

9. A discharge device for projecting carbon dioxide for fire extinguishing purposes comprising a plurality of nozzles, conduit means to deliver carbon dioxide to the nozzles, and a ring of shields each of generally frusto-conical cross sectional shape and each positioned about a nozzle, a center shield of hexagonal cross sectional shape also positioned about a nozzle, the shields arranged with their outlet ends contiguous so that the discharges therefrom have a mutually shielding effeet, the shape of the shields permitting them to fit together to prevent entrainment of air from between the ends thereof.

FRANK B. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,760,274 Minor May 27, 1930 2,117,684 Schaaf u May '17, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 503,273 Germany May 27, 1927 830,977 France May 23, 1938 

